Andrew Purchas (he/him)

Andrew is a leading advocate for equality in sport and in 2017 was awarded an Order of Australia for services to rugby and the promotion of social inclusion for LGBT people. 

He is Co- Founder of the Pride in Sport Index, Founder the Sydney Convicts Rugby Club, Chair of ACON’s Finance & Audit Committee, and Past Chair of International Gay Rugby.   

Andrew has a long sporting background, having rowed and played rugby for NSW.  He played first grade rugby for Sydney University and was award a University Blue from Sydney University for rowing.  He is a life member Colleagues Rugby Club, Sydney Convicts Rugby Club and International Gay Rugby. 

Headshot of Andrew Purchas against a black background

Festival partners

Our festival would not be possible without the support of our partners who have an ongoing commitment to the community and what it stands for.

A banner advertisement for Optus that reads "Pride starts with yes" with a cutout photo of two camp men half embracing and smiling
Canva banner with photo of couple and design with pride text on rainbow background
A banner advertisement with text "New Season Podcast", has a graphic of a rainbow layers of colour in a heart shaped and abc logo plus one for "Innies + Outies" podcast and then text that says "listen" above a button shape that says "Stream for free"
Banner ad with text on coloured background "Herbert Smith Freehills championing diversity and inclusion"
A banner advertisement for Optus that reads "Pride starts with yes" with a cutout photo of two camp men half embracing and smiling
A banner advertisement of American Express that reads "be yourself and proud" with a picture of a man with rainbow glitter on his face. The next slide reads "Amex House at The Oxford 17 Feb - 5 Mar"
Coles Sydney WorldPride 2023 proud partner banner
Colourful animated gif advertising Absolut vodka with a sparkling rainbow background and a bottle of the vodka in the foreground. The words "Pride in Diversity" display at the end.
A banner advertisement for Optus that reads "Pride starts with yes" with a cutout photo of two camp men half embracing and smiling
Animated banner advertisement of ooh media depicting happy adults with phrases like "Making love unmissable!" on an orange background
Archie Rose advertisement showing a bottle of Archie Rose gin with a background of rainbow flowers with the text "Official Gin Partner of Sydney WorldPride 2023. Proudly Serving Everyone."
Orea advertisement with the text "Stay Playful Stay Proud" next to a heart made by stacking images of Oreos together and the Oreo to the right of it with a blue background.
A banner advertisement for Optus that reads "Pride starts with yes" with a cutout photo of two camp men half embracing and smiling
Qantas advertisement showing a Qantas plane with a rainbow tail flying above the clouds with the text "Pride is in the air" displayed next to it and the logos for Sydney WorldPride, Qantas and Mardi Gras along the top.
P&G advertisement depicting happy people and text saying "This 2023, lead with love" and logos of their brands.
An advertisement for Covermore that shows a photograph of two women holding a rainbow flag behind them with text to the left that says "Cover More travel insurance. We're there every step of your journey. Learn more. Proud Supporting Partner of Sydney WorldPride 2023."
A banner advertisement for Optus that reads "Pride starts with yes" with a cutout photo of two camp men half embracing and smiling
Durex advertisement that consists of a collage of photos with a red filter over them showing two women above to kiss and two men kissing with the text "durex, love your sex and gather. dream. amplify." displayed above further text saying "Proud partner of Sydney WorldPride 2023"
A black banner advertisement with the Deloitte logo in white with a green full stop on the left and a white version of the Sydney WorldPride logo on the right. This then rotates to another slide that says "Wonderful, proud and free!" in a lot of colour and movement
Banner ad for Mini Big Love campaign
A banner advertisement for Optus that reads "Pride starts with yes" with a cutout photo of two camp men half embracing and smiling
A photograph of two pairs of women arm in arm walking across a bridge at night with the text "Feel like the night will never end" over the image. The advertisement is for Destination NSW
A banner advertisement for Booking.com showing someone with a beard wearing a pink bikini floating in a pool and the words "Travel Proud" next to them
A banner ad for Under Armour that says "Equality has no off season" with "UA Pride Collection" written underneath. The text sits on a photograph of Chloe Logarzo wearing the Under Armour Pride Collection clothing
A banner advertisement for Optus that reads "Pride starts with yes" with a cutout photo of two camp men half embracing and smiling
A banner advertisement for Douglass Hanly Moir Pathology services promoting their partnership with Sydney WorldPride

Acknowledgement of country

Sydney WorldPride will take place on the lands of the Gadigal, Cammeraygal, Bidjigal, Darug, Dharawal people who are the Traditional Custodians of the Sydney Basin.

We pay our Respects to their Elders past and present. Always was Always will be Aboriginal Land.

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people come from many different clans and communities across Australia & in 2023 will come together as one, to celebrate with our global LGBTQIA+ community.